Esophagectomy for end-stage achalasia.

Achalasia is a disease for which treatments are palliative in nature. Success of therapy is judged by a number of metrics, the most important being relief of symptoms, such as dysphagia and regurgitation. Patients often compensate for symptoms though a variety of dietary and lifestyle modifications, making symptomatic assessment of therapeutic outcome unreliable. Given this fact, and the progressive nature of the condition if left inadequately treated, patients not infrequently present with the disabling manifestations of end-stage disease for which esophagectomy is the best option. In appropriately selected patients, and when performed in experienced centers, esophagectomy with foregut reconstruction can be undertaken successfully with acceptable rates of morbidity and mortality, as well as a good long-term symptomatic outcome, in cases of end-stage achalasia.